Container



Feb. 13, 1940. F. DQPALMER 2,190,433

' CONTAINER Filed Sept. 22, 19:57 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 13, 1940 CONTAINER Frank D. Palmer, Chicago, Ill., assignor of onethird to Cranston Spray, Chicago, 111.

Application September 22, 1937, Serial No. 165,000

4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in folded cartons or other containers, and more particularly to fasteners for contiguous side walls of such containers.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved container characterized by a novel and effective fastener for contiguous side walls thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fastener which is capable of being operated manually, or by machine, without permanently distorting or weakening the elements involved, either when establishing or releasing engagement of the fastener elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide .a securement for container walls which may be used repeatedly without reduced effectiveness.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening means for container walls which automatically secures and releases itself for repeated use under forces other than those normally brought to bear upon the container when in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container having novel fastening means for walls thereof which is simple in construction and operation, neat in appearance, efiective in use, and inexpensiveto manufacture and assemble.

These being among the objects of the invention, other and further objects will become apparent from the drawings herein, the description relating thereto, and the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a blank cut from a sheet of cardboard, illustrating a preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2'is a slightly enlarged perspective of the blank shown in Fig. 1 when folded into the form of a container with its fasteners engaged.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the manner in which a fastener is brought into engagement to secure two sides of the container.

Fig. 4 is an illustration of the fastener in one position between its fully engaged and fully released positions.

Fig. 5 illustrates the fastener when fully engaged.

Fig. 6 is a section taken upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a section taken upon the line '|-1 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a perspective of my fastener as viewed from the inside of the container.

Referring now to the drawings in further detail, the invention will be better understood when it is observed generally that one or more tongues 5 M are. provided upon the marginal edge I2 of one side of a blank 14 with notches I6 provided upon each side of each tongue at the base thereof. The sides of the notches IS on one side coincide with the edge I2 and on the other side 10 form edges i8 diverging from the edge I2 to U form a head portion 20 spaced from the edge 12 and tapering terminally to a leading edge 22. The head 20 is adapted for insertion through a curvilinear slot 24 in such a way that its tapered portions which forni tabs 26 are bent out of their planes to follow the contour of the slot while the tongue III is being passed therethrough, and thereafter resume their plane beyond the slot when the tongue is in full inserted position. In

this position the tabs 26, in conjunction with the body portions adjacent the ends of the slot, act to prevent removal of the tongue l0 until and unless tabs 26 are again bent from their normal plane.

Referring now to the general construction of the container so that a morecomplete understanding of the invention may be had, the blank l4 is'cut to the form shown in Fig. 1 from a fiat layer of fibrous material and crimped for fold- 30 ing along two sets of parallel lines namely 28 and 30, which intersect each other at right angles.

The crimp lines define those portions of the blank M which go to make up the'walls of the container when folded and the four of these walls 5 which form the sides are indicated by the numeral 32. .Since the blank is flat and the resulting container is to be polygonal, two free edges l2 and 34 have to be united. For this purpose the'edge I2 is provided with tongues l0, and the other edge 34 with a flap 36 folded as at 38. Although two fasteners are employed in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated that one, or more than two, may be employed, if desired, either upon containers of 4,5 the same size or of different size than the one shown'depending upon particular container requirements, and in addition to this the fasteners may be employed upon more thanone edge of the container.

Referring again to the fasteners in greater detail, the tongues III are formed integral with the edge '12 for folding along a line 40 coincident remaining only to point out that the leading edge 22 may be rectilinear or slightly convex to assist in introducing it into the slot 24 as more particularly discussed hereinafter.

Each of the slots 24 provided for the reception of a tongue I comprises a rectilinear portion 42 disposed parallel to the fold 38 of the blank l4 and slightly spaced therefrom within the confines of the flap portion 36. Beyond its ends the rectilinear portion 42 is provided with slot extensions 44 leading deeper into the flap 36 at an acute angle with the fold 38. The rectilinear portion 42 is coextensive with the width of the narrow base portion 46 of the tongue and the overall length of therectilinear portion 42 and the extensions 44 is slightly in excess of the greatest width of the tongue l0.

Then when the flap 36 is folded inwardly preparatory to coming into face to face contact with the inner face of the side carrying the tongue In, the portion 48 of the flap 36 between the slot 42 and the fold 38 is left protruding slightly above the outer face of the flap 36 so that when the leading edge 22 of the tongue I 0 contacts the upper face of the flap 36 to slide towards the slot 42, as it is desirable to have it do when assembling the containers, the protuberance 48 catches the leading edge 22 and directs it into the slot 42 Where with further pressure the tongue l0 may be forced fully down and into the slot.

While the tongue I!) is progressing through the slot 42 either under manual or machine pressure, the tabs 26 bend from their plane to follow the contour of the slot extensions 44. When fully inserted, the tabs 26 are free to resume the plane normal to them and the trailing tapered edges 3 of the tongue l0 engage against that portion of the flap located between the slot' extensions 44 and the fold 38 in a way inhibiting withdrawal of the tongue l0 without the tabs 25 being again bent to follow the contour of the extensions 44.

It might be Well to point out at this time that the angularity of the slot extensions 44 is so de-' termined as not to include as much bending in the tabs 26 as would permanently distort or weaken them, but tmfurnish sufiicient angularity so that a bending of the tabs for their removal will be somewhat difl'lcult preferably to an extent just short of injuring them. Also it will be observed that the incline of the leading edges 50 of the tabs 26 is gradual while that of the trailing edges I8 is rather sharp. This difference in taper makes it easy to assemble the container but difiicult to disassemble it, and these determinants may be varied according to the needs relating to the particular requirements of different containers and the different means employed for assembling or disassembling the containers.

The flap 36 and tongues I!) come to rest on the inside of the container and in this way the walls of the container are brought together and secured without any of the fasteners showing and without the need for long drying glue or paste which would otherwise be inadequate particularly with waxed containers. In addition to this the container can be disassembled for storage purposes'without being injured if for any reason more containers are assembled at any one time than can be used.

Consequently, an improved folded container, or the like; and fasteners therefor, is provided by the invention, and although one particular embodiment has been illustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various uses, modifications, and changes, may be made without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A fastener for a folded container or the like having two edges to be secured together comprising a member carried by one edge having a curvilinear slot therein, a guide protuberance bounding one side of said slot and a tongue carried by the other member having a rectilinear cross sectional contour and a leading edge guided by said protuberance into said slot.

2. A fastener for a folded container or the like having two edges to be secured together comprising a member carried by one edge having a curvilinear slot therein, a guide protuberance bounding at least a portion of one side of said slot and a tongue carried by the other member having a rectilinear cross sectional contour adapted to assume said curvilinear contour while passing through said slot and to resume said rectilinear contour when inserted fully ,into said slot.

3. A fastener for a folded container having two edges to be secured together comprising a member carried by one edge having a curvilinear slot therein, a tongue carried by the other member having tapering leading edges terminating in reversely tapered trailing edges at its base and having a rectilinear cross-sectional contour, a protuberance bounding a portion of the far side of said curvilinear slot for guiding said leading edges into said slot, said leading edges forcing said tongue to assume said curvilinear contour while said tongue is passing through said slot, said tongue resuming said rectilinear contour when inserted fully into said slot and said trailing edges forcing said tongue to reassume said curvilinear contour for permitting withdrawal of the tongue from said slot.

4. A folded container or the like, comprising two sides to be joined together, a flap carried by one side along a fold line and having a curvilinear slot therein approximately parallel to and spaced from said fold, a tongue carried by the other side and having tapering edges terminating in reversely tapered shoulders at its base, said tongue being adapted to be forced through said slot with said tapering edges adapted to follow the curvilinear portion of said slot, and means intermediate saidslot and fold for guiding said tongue into initial insertion in said slot.

FRANK D. PALMER. 

